Jaguar F-type P450 RWD
Evo UK|December 2022
A European road trip puts our grand touring coupe in its element
Richard Meaden
Jaguar F-type P450 RWD

WHEN I FIRST SAT DOWN AT MY LAPTOP W way back in March of 2021 and opened the Jaguar Land Rover configurator to spec what turned out to be KN71 LWR, I did so dreaming of taking our future Fast Fleet F-type on a long road trip.

I didn't know where that trip would be to, but I knew that if I was to appreciate what this car is all about - and do justice to what is, in all probability, Jaguar's last combustion-engined sports GT - it needed to be beyond our shores.

It took a while to materialise, but that trip came in the form of a recent jaunt to Switzerland to visit family. It's a journey Mrs M and I have done on countless occasions. Many times by car, but more often by plane, as I somewhat ashamedly confessed in my column in evo 302. This time around, with airports in chaos and cheap flights apparently a thing of the past, it didn't even take Man Maths to decide it would be cheaper, less stressful and far more enjoyable to jump in the Jag.

With no kids to cart around, an impractical two-seater is a fine way to slice through Europe. The F-type's boot is a reasonable size, but the depth tapers due to the rakish fastback styling. You can just about fit a couple of carry-on cases in there if you push them right up against the rear bulkhead, but anything else needs to be slim or squashy if you're to make the most of what space there is. The almost total lack of stowage space in the cabin doesn't help.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2022 من Evo UK.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2022 من Evo UK.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من EVO UK مشاهدة الكل
Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo - The latest, V6-powered GranTurismo is now available in open-top form. Is its combination of performance, comfort and style a winning one?
Evo UK

Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo - The latest, V6-powered GranTurismo is now available in open-top form. Is its combination of performance, comfort and style a winning one?

How appropriate for a car that includes a variant called 'Folgore' ('Lightning' in Italian) in its line-up that giant forks of the stuff are straddling the road ahead. It's almost as if Maserati has a direct line to the big man upstairs. Then again, giant hailstones are clattering against the fabric roof as well, and then turn to a deluge of water so heavy that to top 15mph feels reckless. Possibly not the environment the Italian firm had in mind when they chose to launch the new GranCabrio Trofeo around the Italian Lakes. Still, if nothing else it's a stern test of the canvas above my head and one that it passes with ease: there are no puddles forming inside, as you would expect of a £169,585 convertible, and it feels as quiet and snug as if I was driving the GranTurismo coupe.

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2024
Cupra Formentor Abt
Evo UK

Cupra Formentor Abt

It's farewell to the original Cupra Formentor with an Abt-tuned run-out package. It's a quietly excellent car; just a shame about the price...

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo
Evo UK

Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo

This misguided departure from the French brand's hot hatch heritage saw the Clio fall from grace

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
REBIRTH OF AN ICON
Evo UK

REBIRTH OF AN ICON

The Kalmar 9X9 is a modernday reinterpretation of Porsche's game-changing 959 supercar, with a carbon body and up to 917bhp. And evo is helping to develop it

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Evo UK

Volkswagen Golf GTI

The underachieving Mk8 GTI gets a shot at redemption with the new, revised Mk8.5 version. Is it the leap forward it needs to be?

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
BEST BUYS
Evo UK

BEST BUYS

FAST FORDS FROM THE CORTINA TO THE ESCORT AND THE FIESTA, Ford is responsible for some of the most popular cars in British history. But alongside these everyday machines it has also produced a stream of desirable driver's cars.

time-read
9 mins  |
October 2024
HY AND DRY
Evo UK

HY AND DRY

The switch to electric power means an early exit for Hyundai N's brilliant ICE hot hatch duo. We go for a farewell drive in the 120 N

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2024
SEXY BEAST
Evo UK

SEXY BEAST

The Vanquish name is back for Aston Martin's latest seriesproduction flagship, with a stunning new look and simply brutal performance from an 824bhp twin-turbo V12

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2024
THE JOY OF DRIVING
Evo UK

THE JOY OF DRIVING

From mastering the everyday commute to unlocking the full potential of your performance car, our new series will help you become safer, more confident and ultimately more skilled behind the wheel

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2024
TINY DANCER
Evo UK

TINY DANCER

You haven't seen a Mini dance like this before, but then you haven't seen a Mini with a 4-litre M Power V8 under the bonnet and rear-wheel drive. Introducing Vini...

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2024